John Kiama Wambua, accused of brutally killing his wife in Huruma Estate, has now asked a Nairobi court to disregard his earlier statement, alleging that he was coerced into signing it under duress.
Wambua, who is currently being held under a miscellaneous application to allow police to finalize their investigation, made the bold claims in a dramatic plea before Milimani trial Magistrate Carolyne Nyaguthie. He told the court that officers at the station where he was detained allegedly forced him to sign a statement that did not reflect his true account of the tragic events.
“Your Honour, I plead with the court to intervene because I was forced to sign a statement. It did not come from me,” Wambua told the court, pleading for justice.
The chilling incident, which has shaken both Mwingi and Huruma, involves the brutal slaying of Wambua’s wife, whose body was reportedly dismembered and stuffed into a bag. The crime sent shockwaves through the community, with the victim’s family expressing shock and disbelief over the brutality of the act.
In an unexpected turn, both Wambua’s family and the victim’s kin have expressed intentions to seek an out-of-court resolution using traditional Kamba clan mediation. This revelation came during the burial of the deceased, where family members of both sides were seen discussing the possibility of engaging in this age-old practice to address the heinous crime.
This move has raised eyebrows, as it adds a layer of complexity to the ongoing legal proceedings. Whether the court will honor the request for traditional mediation, or continue to pursue the case through the formal justice system, remains to be seen.
The case is one that will certainly keep both legal and local communities on edge as it unfolds. Will Wambua’s plea for intervention succeed, or will the legal system hold him accountable for the heinous crime he is accused of? Only time will tell.
